Highlights of European Cancer Congress

"Astonishing" results with immunotherapy in a range of hard to treat cancers were the highlight of the Congress (27 September – 1st October, 2013) for Martine Piccart (ESMO). For Vincenzo Valentini (ESTRO), it was the new perception that that local treatment with radiation therapy could have an impact on systemic disease. Graeme Poston (ESSO) picked out the training of young surgical oncologists, which may now last only 6,000 hours, compared with up to 40,000 hours for previous generations of surgeons. How can the profession ensure that they are safe?

In this month's EJC News Focus, Helen Saul meets the Presidents of various cancer societies, including Moshe Oren (EACR), Birgitte Grube (EONS) and Cornelis van de Velde (ECCO), and asks for their take-home messages from the European Cancer Congress.